NEPAL > TREKKING > TILICHO - DHAULAGIRI TREK

Tilicho Lake / Dhaulagiri Trek

Starting approximately October 1, 2012, I will be returning to Nepal to an area I love (Tilicho Lake) and going to an area I have not been (Dhaulagiri Base Camp). I am willing to take up to ten people with me. This will be a totally catered affair and all you will have to carry is your day pack. It will be professionally guided and the camps will be set up for us and the cooking will be done for us. This is a visually stunning part of the world and one of those experiences of a lifetime.

Please note: This is not a commercial endeavor on my part and I am a person of contact only. All participants will be making their own arrangements for flying to Nepal and back and dealing with the Nepal agent, as I am doing. The agent, Dipak Dhamala is a personal friend and has arranged my previous trips.

Trip details:

Day 01 Welcome to Kathmandu
Arrive in Kathmandu and transfer to the hotel. A walking sightseeing tour around Thamel, Ashan and Kathmandu Durbar Square.

Day 02 Kathmandu Sightseeing
Arrange for trekking permits and sightseeing tour of Shyambhunath, Pahupatinath and Bouddhanath.

Day 03 Kathmandu – Pokhara
Fly to Pokhara, a lakeside village resort area.

Day 04 Fly to Jomsom
The flight itself is worth the price of admission. As we fly up the valley to Jomsom, The Dhaulagiri Range looms on the left and the Annapurna Range will be on the right. Both ranges top 26,000 ft.

Day 05 Start trek to Thini and above
The Thakali people inhabit this area, and this is the last village. It is a gradually climbing trail with excellent views. The peaks of Nilgiri, Annapurna South and Dhauligiri (peaks of 26,000 ft.) are to the west. We climb to Kaishang at 10,660 Ft., and then return to Jomsom.

Day 06 Hike back up to Kaishang and camp.

Day 07 Walk to Phedi.
We will hike to just before the pass (Nama Phu Kharkha) at 13,450 ft. Great views of the Dhauligiri and Annapurna ranges. Return to previous camp.

Day 08 Hike back up to Nama Phu Kharkha and camp.

Day 09 Onward to Tilicho Lake!
From the high camp we climb about 4,100 ft. to Mesokanta Pass. The views are spectacular as the mountains are right in front of you and you get the feeling of being on top of the world. We then descend to the lake at 16,140 ft. It will be a pack lunch day as there will be no water available for cooking where we stop for lunch.

Day 10 Hiking in Manang
Hike around the area, and after lunch hike down to Manang. We will camp between the lake and Manang.

Day 11 Arrive in Manang for lunch and hike around

Day 12 We hike from Manang to Thorong Phedi.
The trail continues before climbing a steep scree slope northwest of the tributary valley of the Jargeng Khola. You can sometimes see Blue Mountain Sheep along the cliffs that surround the camp at Thorong Phedi (14,500 ft.).

Day 13 Thorong Phedi to Muktinath
We continue to Muktinath. We ascend steeply to the 15,060 ft. level. After that the trail is less steep, but continues upward to 17,770 ft. at the summit of Thorong-La. There are incredible views of the Annapurnas, now to the south, and the Mukut Himal bordering the Dolpo region to the west. The trail descends steeply over glacier moraine, which gives way to grassy meadow before we reach Muktinath. This is one of the most important pilgrimage sights for Hindus. Water(considered holy by the Hindus) flows from 108 carved spouts surrounding the Vishnu Temple, which is in a grove of poplar trees. Muktinath is also home to Budhists and ethnic Tibetans. In a temple sacred to them there is a jet of fire burning in a stream of water.

Day 14 Muktinath - Kagbeni - Jomsom
We now continue our descent in Kagbeni, which is actually the starting point for going into the Mustang area of Nepal and then continue on to Jomsom.

For those stopping the trek here, Day 15) Fly from Jomsom to Pokhara; 16) Fly to Kathmandu; 17) Fly home.

For those going on to Dhaulagiri:

Day 15 Jomsom to Marpha
We go from Jomosom to Marpha.We descend gradually through fields of poplar groves, then into the Kali Kandaki River valley. We follow it southward from Jomosom. The valley is called the Thak Khola, from the ethnic group the Thakalis, who mainly inhabit this area.

Day 16 Marpha to Dhaulagiri Base Camp
We start our ascent to Dhaulagiri Base Camp and camp at Yak Kharka.

Day 17 Dhaulagiri Base camp
Continue to base camp crossing Dampus Pass (17,100 ft.) and French Col (17,600) and then descend to the base camp at (15,500 ft.).

Day 18 Explore the area

Day 19 Return to Yak Kharka

Day 20 Return to Jomsom

Day 21 Fly to Pokhara

Day 22 Fly to Kathmandu

Day 23 Fly Home !

There is no direct flight to fly to Jomsom from Kathmandu. Group members will have to go to Pokhara on second day in the afternoon and fly to Jomsom Next day.

please contact us.